{
  "id": 3417964,
  "title": "Kim Hock laughs off BAM return talk, focuses on family tournament",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/kim-hock-laughs-off-bam-return-talk-focuses-on-family-tournament",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-26T03:33:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/badminton/2026/08/1518937/kim-hock-laughs-bam-return-talk-focuses-family-tournament"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kuala Lumpur: Will Yap Kim Hock, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics silver medallist, has dismissed talk of a return to the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) as mere rumours while focusing on competing at a family tournament in Malaysia. Currently coaching at Zhengzhou Badminton Academy in Henan, China, Kim Hock will be in Kuala Lumpur from September 3-6 to partner his 19-year-old son, Yap Jun Sen, in the parent-child category of the Galaxy Lightning Cup International Championships. The former BAM head coach expressed his desire to return to the association in 2017, but he firmly stated that his current visit to Kuala Lumpur is solely for family purposes. Kim Hock's coaching career with BAM began in 2002, where he played a pivotal role in developing talents like Koo Kien Keat. He served as the national junior head coach, chief coach, and head coach of Petaling Badminton Club before moving to China. Despite his contract in China ending at the end of the year, Kim Hock has not yet decided on his next coaching move.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Will Yap Kim Hock make a comeback to the BA of Malaysia (BAM) as the national mixed doubles head coach?",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}